West Virginia reports highest level of unemployment

Three other States plus the District of Columbia had unemployment rates in excess of 5.5 percent in 1999. These included the District of Columbia at 6.3 percent, Oregon at 5.7 percent, Hawaii at 5.6 percent and New Mexico at 5.6 percent.

Of the eleven States with jobless rates above 5.0 percent in 1999, seven were in the West. The West registered the highest unemployment rate (4.9 percent) of the four regions for the eighth consecutive year.